Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerJacques Lemaire will remain with the Devils as a special assignment scout and coach.Although he still does not have an official title, Jacques Lemaire will remain with the Devils as a special assignment coach and scout.

"He doesn't have a title. He's going to be a special assignment person," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today. "We spoke before he left and he's coming back into town in a couple of weeks."

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As expected, the Devils will finalize a deal as early as Friday to move their American Hockey League affiliate from Lowell, Mass., to Albany, N.Y.

Lamoriello said AHL officials were notified at their league meetings of the forthcoming switch.

"There is nothing final at this point, but we're in the process," Lamoriello said. "We're leaning towards going to Albany, but until everything is final we're not going to make an announcement."

The Devils' lease at Tsongas Arena in Lowell expires this month and they have sent a letter of intent to Times Union Center officials in Albany stating their desire to move the franchise.

"I think the process has started to make it a done deal, but I don't think the papers are finalized," Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek said.

Albany is losing the River Rats. The top minor league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes will move to Charlotte, N.C.